§ 5. Mr. Thorneasked the Prime Minister whether he has been informed by the Czech Government of the details of the demands made by the German Government for the handing over of the Wilko-wittz ironworks near Teschen, with their seven blast furnaces, equipment for war ships and steel bridges, which employ 20,000 workers; and, as this is a violation of the Munich Agreement, what action does he propose to take?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir. My Noble Friend has no reason to believe that this in formation is correct. The last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. ThorneIs it not the case that since last Wednesday, when a similar question was asked, the right hon. Gentleman has had time to make inquiries? Has he made inquiries?
§ Mr. ButlerWhen a similar question was asked, I said that our information did not bear out the statement in the question. The position is the same to-day.
§ 26. Sir Percy Harrisasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the formal guarantee of the independence of the remainder of Czecho-Slovakia, after the severance of Sudetenland, contained in the letter from the Reich Chancellor to the Prime Minister on 27th September, 883 he will make representations to the German Government against pressure being brought to bear on the Czech Government by Germany to give special privileges to Germans of Czech nationality that remain inside the Czech State?
§ Mr. ButlerMy Noble Friend does not see his way to adopt the course which the hon. Member suggests.
§ Sir P. HarrisHave the Government not a special responsibility to Czecho-Slovakia in resisting attacks from Germany on her independence in view of our guarantee of her frontiers?
§ Mr. ButlerI am not satisfied that the information of the hon. Baronet is correct, and that such action would be in accordance with the wishes of the Czecho-Slovak Government.